Dive Brief:
- Former Biogen R&D chief Doug Williams has launched Codiak Biosciences, which has an $80 million-plus investment commitment from a team of high-profile investors.
- The company will focus on the role of exosomes in treating cancer and other diseases.
- Williams will be working with co-founder Eric Lander, president of the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT.
Dive Insight:
Williams has a history of success behind him, including his role as the CEO of ZymoGenetics. More recently, he was R&D chief of Biogen, where he spent five years and headed up development of notable new therapies, including the oral therapy Tecfidera for multiple sclerosis. Although Biogen hit a rough patch after Williams left, leading to restructuring and some financial challenges, Williams says it is normal for companies to need to retrench from time to time.